Source: Grain import levies fund US$3,2m irrigation drive – herald
Professor Obert JiriTheseus Mauruki Shambare
Herald Correspondent
Zimbabwe is rapidly converting grain import levy revenues into tangible irrigation infrastructure projects, with more than US$3,2 million and ZIG29 million already deployed towards irrigation development under the Agricultural Marketing Fund .
The programme, which is anchored on Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, is part of the government’s broader strategy to link agricultural import regulation with domestic production support, as authorities intensify efforts to strengthen food security and climate resilience.
Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025 is the policy framework that introduces a grain import levy on selected commodities and ring-fences the revenue into the Agricultural Marketing Fund to finance irrigation development, boost local production and strengthen Zimbabwe’s food security system.
Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the scheme is already delivering measurable outcomes on the ground, with irrigation schemes being rehabilitated and expanded to boost production capacity.
“Certainly this is SI 87 in action, the SI 87 of 2025, which emphasises local production,” said Prof Jiri.
He said the Glen Somerset Irrigation Scheme in Murewa District is a clear example of the policy in practice, where 50 hectares previously underutilised have now been brought into production through irrigation infrastructure financed by levy proceeds.
“So essentially, these are the results where we see irrigation schemes being opened up and this was at zero and now we are able to irrigate 50 hectares.”
Prof Jiri said the scheme — now benefiting 20 farmers — had the capacity to produce at least 250 tonnes of grain, significantly strengthening household and local food security in the area.
“If we operate at 92kg per person per year consumption which is the average, it means that we will be able to feed much more than the 20 beneficiaries of this scheme,” he said.
“Food security around the scheme is now guaranteed.”
He said the expansion of irrigation was part of a national strategy to reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture and ensure stable food production amid increasing climate variability and El Niño risks.
Government’s long-term target, he said, was to expand irrigated cereal production to 350 000 hectares, which would guarantee national food self-sufficiency.
“We are on 258 000 hectares,” said Prof Jiri.
“We will remove from there the estates, sugar cane estates, citrus estates and other non-food crops. In essence we have around 148 000 hectares available for cereal production.”
He said this left a national gap of about 200 000 hectares that still needed to be developed urgently to meet food security requirements through irrigation.
Prof Jiri said the country had made significant progress since 2017, when irrigation development stood at about 70 000 hectares, rising to 258 000 hectares in 2026, despite the capital-intensive nature of such investments.
“We have moved quite a lot from 2017, when we were just about 70 000 hectares and now we are on 258 000 hectares.
“It is massive progress considering that irrigation development is capital-intensive,” he said
He said the Government was now accelerating small-scale and scheme-based irrigation models funded through innovative financing mechanisms, including proceeds from SI 87 of 2025.
Agricultural Marketing Authority chief executive Ms Alice Mapfiza said the Fund was already supporting 17 irrigation schemes in its first batch, with completion targeted for July 31, 2026.
“The scheme cost a total of around US$300 000, but the total funds that we have put towards different schemes for the first batch amount to US$3.2 million and ZIG 29 million,” she said.
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